Low Clouds: Stratus

Stratus Clouds

- Stratus clouds are grayish clouds that cover the sky.

- They are like fog but do not touch the ground

- Precipitation doesn't fall from these clouds but may drizzle.

- When thick fog gets higher, clouds become low stratus.

Middle Clouds: Altostratus

Altocumulus Clouds

- Middle level clouds

- Made of water droplets

- They are gray, puffy, and look they are in parallel waves or bands

- They appear on a warm, humid summer morning

- Show thunderstorms may come later in the afternoon



High Clouds: Cirrus

Cirrus Clouds

-Thin wispy clouds

-blown by high winds long streamers

-considered "high clouds" forming above 6000 m (20,000 ft)

- Move across the clouds from east to west

- Fair to pleasant weather

Clouds with Vertical

Development: Cumulus

Cumulus Clouds

- Puffy clouds that look like cotton

- 1000m (330ft) above the ground

- Top of cloud has rounded towers

- When the cloud looks like a cauliflower

it is called cumulus congestus or

towering cumulus

- Develops into a thunderstorm cloud

- Grow upward